It is a bit belated, but I wanted to make sure Sam knew what a great Daddy he is to Morgan! As time goes on with Morgan in our lives, it is so much fun to watch the two of them play and bond. The photo to the left is one year ago at Oceanside. It is one of my favorite pictures of the two of them.
Lately, some of Morgan's favorite Daddy moments are getting out beach towels and ordering Sam to drag her around the house on them. She also loves climbing on his back while he lays on the floor and go for rides while Sam does push-ups. In the mornings when I go into her room, it is so cute because she always asks about Daddy. She usually says "Daddy seeping" (sleeping) or "Daddy shouwa" (shower) in this all-knowing way of hers. If he's still in bed, we both climb back in there and hang out as a family. Morgan is usually climbing all over us or trying to turn on Sam's clock radio, but it is one of our favorite parts of the day.
Recently, Morgan discovered ribbons and loves playing with them. Here are my two buddies playing either dress-up or Rambo - not sure which!
I love you, Sam! Thanks for being such an amazing father and great parenting partner!
Throughout the school year, many of my students have been asking me when I was going to bring Morgan in for a visit. Going to work on my days off wasn't that exciting, and disrupting my teaching partner, Kathy, wasn't really nice either. But now that the year is winding down, and I will soon have to say good-bye to my kids, colleagues, and job, I thought it was time. Yesterday Morgan and I went to my school at the end of the day, and since it happened to be a student's birthday, the kids were pretty wound up. It was also "Pioneer Day" for the 4th graders, and the kids were all dressed up! But they were also very excited when Kathy told them Morgan and I would visit that day. I wasn't sure how Morgan would handle 26 "big kids" staring at her and talking and acting like 4th and 5th graders, but she did awesome! She was a little shy at first, but that only lasted about 1 or 2 minutes. Soon she was walking around to every student and giving them high-fives or fist bumps. My 5th grade boys thought the fist bumps were pretty cool. One girl even said, "I didn't know Joey could be gentle!" (Joey is one of my "tough guys"). 
Morgan loved it and soon began running around the room. She also saw several "skoo bus" outside, which were just as cool as the kids. She kept saying "inside" because she wanted to go in and ride one. Once the kids left for the day, she got to wander amongst the desks, peering inside at all the pencils, papers, and random gross things my kids stash in there - all at eye level. So tempting! But we went off to visit a few more teachers, since many of them hadn't seen Morgan in months. Our school has outdoor breezeways instead of hallways, which I have actually come to appreciate in the three years I have been here. Morgan found those delightful places to run. She is very into running these days, and to her, it must feel like the fastest thing she's ever experienced. Saying she is proud of herself when she runs would be a huge understatement! All the classrooms we visited were very fun and exciting places to explore, especially the primary rooms where they had more toys and books and chairs her size. 
Several other colleagues that have younger kids have them hang out in their rooms after school or help them with special projects. It was kind of fun having Morgan there because she is starting to get the idea of what a school is. For me, teaching has been a career I truly enjoy and am so happy I went into nine years ago. There have been ups and downs, but all good and challenging years, regardless of the unique experiences I have had at the three (+) schools I have taught at.
But now I am at a crossroads of sorts. I have to move and leave my current school and the job-share that has been so ideal as a working mother. With the economy and huge teacher lay-offs, I figured that I really didn't have any options other than staying home with Morgan next year in Portland. Over the last few months, I have got my head around that fact and started the mental transition to full-time mom. I started researching parent groups and websites in Portland, as well as potential volunteer opportunities that would get me involved in something other than my own life. I even made the decision to teach Morgan Spanish - and have spoken to her (more or less) only in Spanish 2-3 days a week for the last few months. I figured I might as well take advantage of the unique language window she is at. She is such a verbal, talkative kid, and I know it can't hurt to have some exposure to another language. Besides, it's good practice for me too!
But last week threw me for a loop. A part-time opening to teach English as a Second Language in the Parkrose school district opened up and I applied for it. I didn't expect to hear back, but I did, the very next day. And two days later I drove up for an interview. But I was feeling sooo mixed up about even wanting to work after I had already thought I didn't have that option. But after the interview and over the weekend, I did some soul searching and decided that if they offer the job I was not going to take it. I have a unique opportunity to stay at home next year and settle into Portland. We have been away for six years, and I feel like the timing is right to have fun with my daughter, spend more time with my family, and spoil myself a little bit. The last four years have had their ups and downs and involved putting my husband's career goals in front of my own. While I always think of Sam and I as a team, it wasn't always easy being the "trailing spouse." So, I don't feel too guilty about taking a little time for myself in the months to come. :)
Since I truly believe things work out for a reason, I was not offered the job, making my decision easy. I also took my resume off of the online teacher application system. So it's official, I will be full-time Mommy next year! I know I will miss the students and the challenges and even the routines of teaching elementary school, and I'm sure there will be days I wished I had a job I could escape to. But when I look at this amazing little girl that I have the privilege of raising, I have a feeling it's going to be a very fun year.
The other night for the very first time, I heard Morgan say her own name! There it was, clear as day, like she has been practicing it. For many months, when we would ask her, "say Morgan," she would remain silent and appear to ignore us. Recently, she started saying MoMo as a nickname, which we sometimes call her. She also figured out how to use "me" when she's talking (although she still sometimes says things like "help you!" when she wants me to help her). English is a tricky language, so I can't blame her. So, below is a video of Morgan finally saying her name. I guess she was just waiting until she could say it right. I was pretty pleased with my little girl. There's also a photo of Morgan's newest favorite thing: riding bikes with Mom! We got a bike seat for the back of my bike and we love going for rides. Morgan is so relaxed and it's fun toget out on my bike again - it's been collecting dust since I was pregnant!
What a weekend! I think this year's Memorial Day weekend was one of the best in recent memory! It was an all around, sporty weekend. Maybe it's because Morgan's getting older or maybe it's just that summer is around the corner, but it was so fun to be active and do things that I feel like I haven't done since Morgan was born.
Once again, Ron & Amy (Sam's aunt and uncle) opened up their lovely home to us for a few days of relaxation and outdoor adventures. We took walks and rode bikes along the paths, and Morgan had a blast at Fort Rock park. She had her own posse around her the whole time. If Morgan was older, she would have been embarrassed by being the only kid at the park with 5 adults circling, photographing, and playing around her the entire time. But since she is one and a half, all that attention was the best thing ever! Morgan got to swing and slide and have a grand old time. She especially loved the tall spiral slide and the tunnel. The girl has no fear - I know this because her adorable nose crinkle made several appearances as she plummeted down the slides. Morgan may also have a future as a geologist, as she loved playing with handfuls of "wocks" covering the playground. 
The great thing about traveling with family members is that Sam and I can still go out and do fun things (with each other or other people) even while Morgan naps or plays. I got to take a long bike ride with Ron, Amy, and Kim, while Sam (who had sprained his ankle in soccer) hung out with Morgan. But Sam and I got to take a sunset cruise around Sunriver in Ron's convertible MG, and I felt like I was in an old movie. I got to drive because of Sam's ankle, and I have to say it was pretty sweet. (Maybe my father-in-law is finally rubbing off on me and I am becoming a bit of a gear head?) We also got to swim laps and play with Morgan in the water at the athletic club pool in Sunriver. Morgan gleefully mastered the water slide that left her ker-splatting into the baby pool, and left her parents' hearts pounding a bit. 
But including all of us and Morgan in an outdoor adventure was the challenge. Yet somehow we figured out a way to take a 6-mile mountain bike trail to Benham Falls and bring Morgan along. Fortunately, we had iron man to the rescue! Uncle Ron (whom Morgan now realizes is different than "PapaRon") is training for a full Iron Man triathlon this summer, so for a little of his training, he ran Morgan along the trail while we all biked. Now, this isn't just a wooded path through the forest. It is a single-track, rocky, narrow trail that Ron somehow managed to maneuver Morgan's jogging stroller through! 
Being the sleep-deprived, adventure-loving trooper that she was, Morgan tok it all in stride and seemed to have a great time. She watched her parents biking ahead ("Mommy fast!"), the forest go past ("pinecone!" "bump!"), and clouds of dust blow by. She never cried or fussed, and we were probably gone for about two and a half hours in all. The ride was fun, beautiful, and something I hadn't done in a very long time. It inspired me to get back into hiking and biking in the beautiful Northwest.
And to make the weekend even more fun, we were able to go watch my nephew, Noah (or as Morgan says "No-No"), play baseball. He happened to have a tournament in Bend, so we joined my family in cheering him on. It was so fun to see him out there, so cute yet so focused and talented. I'm so proud of him! (And so is Morgan - she has been saying "No-No base-bawl" for days now!) Here are a few great shots of the game. 
Noah on deck with snowy mountains in the background - pretty rough day.
Scoring a run at home base with a slide, after hitting a triple!
Cousins Avery and Morgan keep themselves occupied during the game. Best buddies!
Last weekend we were in celebration mode after Sam's successful defense of his dissertation. It was such a relief to have that over, that we were determined to celebrate all weekend long. (Later I would regret that decision, but that's another story.)
We spent the weekend in Portland with Sam's family - and were lucky to have gorgeous, sunny Oregon weather as icing on the cake. We got to visit the duplex we will be living in NW Portland, trying to figure out what furniture will fit and what we will have to store. We hung out in NW at the park right by our new home, and went shopping for a big family dinner with Kim and her friend, Sanjiv, (who are founding members of the Morgan Fan Club!) Morgan had so much fun with them, including lots of time wading in the fountain at Jamison Park with Kim and "PapaRon" (yes, that is all one word). Now that Sam's parents live across the street from it, Morgan has been there a lot. But we are at a new point, because anytime we get near it, Morgan says "wawa? wawa?" and wants to play in the water - day or night. I can already imagine some of the tantrums that will take place, but the fun definitely outweighs any drama.
Sam, Morgan, and I visited my parents as well - swinging on the swings at their house and wandering around my parents' growing garden. Since our new place doesn't have much of a yard, I told my mom that Morgan and I will have to come to her place so they can play and I can get my gardening "fix" in. I am my mother's daughter, for sure. That night, Sam and I treated ourselves to a yummy, grow-up dinner at the Carlyle and a walk around NW Portland on a night that felt like the middle of summer. I finally had a reason to dress up. :) It was SO amazing to be back in our old neighborhood, and more incredible to think that we will be living there very soon. For the past few years, I just accepted that we'd probably never live in Portland again, especially not back in NW. We are so lucky!
To finish off the weekend, we took Morgan to the zoo for the first time. I had been excited about this for months because she loves animals, and there's just something about seeing your kid experience something for the first time. For her though, it was more a people zoo. She was so fascinated with watching all the other kids and people, that the animals were just a bonus! She was also pretty sleepy and nap-deprived, but seeing penguins swim in front of her and live elephants walk around perked her up and she seemed to enjoy it. We didn't stay too long (the key was getting there right when it opened), but it was just right for her first trip. She's at an age now where we can have conversations (more or less) about things that happened yesterday or some other time. Since we've been home, she really likes talking about the penguins ("pin-gua") and tells us that the hippos were "nigh night." 
Below is a little montage of video clips from the weekend: at the park, at the zoo, and riding the elevator (which she calls "ada-ba-de-a"). Little does she know that she will become a city kid very soon!
For my birthday, Sam surprised me (well, if you count keeping it a secret for at least 10 min.) with tickets to see a man named Greg Mortenson speak. So last night we had a real grown-up night out, meeting friends for dinner at our favorite Eugene restaurant and then going to see Greg at Mac Court. I first read his book, Three Cups of Tea, right after Morgan was born, when I was up nights nursing her. It was a fascinating story, very inspiring, and taught me a lot about that region of the world. Plus, it was a gigantic leap from the reality of new motherhood, so the story really had an impact on me. Sam recently read the book, so the timing of Greg's visit was perfect.
Greg Mortenson is a former mountaineer who has committed himself to building schools in rural mountainous regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has built 50 some schools in central Asia against huge obstacles, in the midst of "wars on terror" and Taliban uprisings. His hope and central message is to spread peace through education, and I think we all know how much truth there is in that belief. War is a last (and sometimes necessary) resort, but education empowers and uplifts humanity in a way that nothing else can.
The book is very well written (co-authored by a writer from Portland, actually) and I highly recommend it if you haven't read it yet. At his presentation last night, Greg Mortenson basically reiterated what was in the book (although not quite as eloquently - he is probably a much better humanitarian and peacemaker than public speaker) but it was fascinating to listen to nonetheless. While Greg's message definitely inspires me to make a more positive impact on the world around me and learn more about the inequalities that exist around the globe, at the very least it makes me extremely grateful for the gifts of literacy, equal opportunities, and freedom that women have here in the United States. It makes me very hopeful for my daughter too, for not only will Sam and I make sure she is well educated, but that she is compassionate and appreciative of all the freedoms she will have in her life.
I love you, Sam! Thanks for being such an amazing father and great parenting partner!
